U.S. Horses on Target for Hong Kong Sprint
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Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club
Mongolian Saturday at Sha Tin the morning of Dec. 10
U.S.-based horses Mongolian Saturday and Green Mask are both good to go for the Dec. 13 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I) at Sha Tin Racecourse, according to their trainers.
Mongolian Saturday, winner of the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT), jogged slowly around the all-weather track at Sha Tin the morning of Dec. 10 before drawing post four for Sunday's race. That position drew a round of applause from his supporters.
Trainer Ganbat Enebish said Mongolian Saturday, a 5-year-old gelding by Any Given Saturday, appears to be doing well in Hong Kong.
"We are happy," he said. "One thousand meters is his best distance but we will do our best" in the 1,200-meter (six-furlong) Sprint. Asked if Mongolian Saturday will go to the lead, he said, "Maybe. Probably."
Green Mask, third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, made his first morning appearance since suffering a bruised left front foot Monday morning. Trainer Wesley Ward said the injury was cleared up.
"He trains with glue-on shoes," Ward said after Green Mask, a 4-year-old Mizzen Mast gelding, was drawn in the No. 11 gate for the Sprint. "We took the shoe off and he was sore. We've soaked it and he's fine."